Milk-can shield.



W. H. SGHMELING.

MILK DAN SHIELD.

APPLICATION FILED rmma, 1010.

978,337. Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

WILLIAM H. SCHMELING, 0F ALBION, WISCONSIN.

MILK-CAN SHIELD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

Application filed February 28, 1910. Serial No. 546,369.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, 'WILLIAM H. SOHMEL- ING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Albion, in the county of Dane, State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Milk-Gan Shields; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to guards for vessels, more particularly to devices of this ,character for attachment to milk cans and like vessels, for protecting the contents from rain, snow, and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed device of this character which may be readily adjusted to fit, vessels of different sizes, and to he clamped thereon and prevented from displacement therefrom.

WVit-h these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claims; and, in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention, Flgure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a can with the improved device located thereon and in section, Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same, Fig. 3 is a detail illustrating the construction and operation of one of the clamp bars.

The improved device may be applied to cans of various sizes and forms and to cans and like vessels employed for holding various products or commodities, but is designed more particularly for milk cans, and for the purpose of illustration is shown applied to a conventional milk can comprising a body 10 and an upwardly directed rim 11, these parts being of the usual construction.

The improved guard or shield comprises a conical sheet metal member 13,preferably slightly greater in diameter than the can, and with a contracted vent 14 at its apex. Riveted at 15 to the inner face of the body 13 are a plurality of flat metal bars 16, the bars conver ing to one point and connected by a rivet 1%. Any required number of the bars may be employed but preferably three will be used, as shown, and secured at equal distances apart to the interior of the shield. Each of the bars 16 is provided with a longitudinal slot 18, and slidably disposed upon each bar is a clamp device comprising a horizontal portion 19 and a downwardly directed portion 20, the downwardly directed portion being preferably inclined inwardly at its lower end. Each of the members l9-20 may be adjusted longitudinally of the bar 16 within the range of the slot; The downwardly and inwardly inclined ortions 20 of the clamp devices are designe to engage beneath the outwardly projecting upper edge of the rim portion 11, as shown and thus provide a means for clamping the conical member to the can rim. Each of the clamp devices is provided with a clamp screw 21 operating through one of the slots 18. By this arrangement the inner face of the conical member 13 is spaced at all points from the rim portion 11 of the can and its cover 12 to provide for free circulation of air, and the vent l4 likewise insures the necessary circulation of air. The member 13 is of sheet metal, preferably heavily tinned or galvanized, while the bars 16 and their clamp devices 1920 are likewise preferably galvanized to prevent corrosion. The parts may be of any required size and of any required strength to enable them to withstand the strains to which they will be subjected.

The improved device is simple in construction, can be inexpensively manufactured and applied, and operates effectually as a protection to the can, and enables the farmer or milkman to leave his cans out of doors without danger of deterioration by the elements or from other causes, and also avoids the necessity for constructing expensive milk sheds or other protecting structures.

WVhat is claimed is 1. A shield for receptacles comprising a body, a plurality of bars longitudinally slotted and connected together at one 'end and connected to the body at their other ends, a clamp device bearing upon each of said bars, and a clamp screw engaging through said slots and clamp devices.

2. A shield for receptacles comprising a body having a vent aperture, a plurality of bars connected to said body, and clamp devices connected to said bars and adapted to detachably engage the same to a receptacle.

3. The combination with a receptacle including the cover thereof, of a shield extending over said cover and spaced therefrom, a plurality of bars longitudinally slotted and connected to said shield, clamp devices connected to said bars and detachably engaging the cover portion of said recepand including a depending portion engagtacle, and means operating through said ing the cover of said receptacle, and a clamp slots for coupling said clamp devices to said screw extending through said clamp device bars. and the slots of said bars.

5 L The combination With a receptacle in- In testimony whereof, I aifix my signa- 15 cluding the cover thereof, of a shield ex-' ture, in presence of two Witnesses. tending over said cover and spaced there- WILLIAM H. SCHMELING.- from, a plurality of bars having longitudi- WVitnesses: nal slots and connected to said shield, a ROY F. HAYES,

10 clamp device bearing upon each of said bars M. A. COLLINS. 

